A good battery is essential to supply the electricity that cranks and starts your engine. A battery has a short lifespan of only three to five years, and it can wear out sooner due to environmental factors or other issues. We’d like to tell you some signs that you need to visit us for a new car battery for your used car.
Signs You Need a New Car Battery for Your Used Car
Weak Alternator
The alternator’s job is to produce electricity for your car’s systems. It does this by spinning at high speed to produce magnetic energy. This magnetic energy is converted to AC and the DC that your car’s systems can use. The alternator is a robust component, but it will eventually age and wear out.
An older alternator produces less electricity than it once did. The level of electricity it supplies will continue to drop, and this will affect battery recharging. A battery uses a relatively fixed amount of power to start the engine, and the reduced recharging rate from the alternator will cause the battery to weaken and fail. We can test your alternator and replace it if needed. We’ll also test your battery’s health.
Swollen Battery Case
A battery contains chemicals, copper plates, an electrolyte solution, and other components. All these items are protected from damage by a thick plastic casing. The casing should always have straight, flat sides. If you spot any bulges or distortions in the casing, this is a sign that the battery is damaged and will fail.
A swollen casing is caused by increasing pressure inside the battery. The electrolyte solution in the casing can swell if it overheats, and hot sulfuric acid releases hydrogen. The overheating could be due to excessive charging by a damaged alternator or exposure to extremely hot weather over time. If your battery is swollen, contact us right away. We can’t repair this type of battery damage, but we can replace the battery for you.
Driving Short Distances
As we’ve seen, the battery uses a fixed amount of electricity to crank the engine. This electricity is replaced by the alternator once the engine is running, but recharging takes time. An alternator charges the battery at full power for ten minutes, then switches to reduced recharging to prevent damage to the battery.
If you regularly drive short distances, the alternator won’t be able to sufficiently recharge the battery before you switch the engine off again. In this situation, your battery will slowly weaken and can fail. We’ll test your battery to ensure that it’s still in good condition. To keep your battery fully charged, we advise you to drive for at least 30 minutes at 55 mph or more.
Most battery problems can be quickly fixed while you wait. Call us today at Stepanek’s Auto Sales & Service.
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